EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Ireland’s Environment – An Integrated Assessment 2020 NUMBER CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS Industry (1) Pollutant emissions to air from industry represent a significant proportion of Ireland’s total air emissions. However, releases of air pollutants by industry have significantly decreased (by over 70%) during the past decade. Overall, environmental regulation and improved pollutant abatement technology, among other factors, have delivered significant reductions in pollution and will continue to do so under new tighter standards up to 2030. Industry (2) The food and drink sector continues to face many challenges in maintaining environmental compliance as the industry adapts to increased agricultural production and intensification. This sector has featured strongly on the EPA priority sites list. Investment is needed to ensure that facilities in the food and drink sector meet their environmental obligations set out in EPA licences covering areas such as odour controls, noise limits and the operation of wastewater treatment systems. Industry (3) Environmental regulation provides a requirement that industry modernises and meets best practice in relation to controls on waste and emissions, as these actions taken to reduce emissions contributes a large dividend in terms of environmental and human health improvements. Industry can gain competitive advantages and more local support from being sustainable and having a good environmental compliance history. Transport (1) The transport sector has a significant impact on the environment, including being responsible for 20 per cent of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions. A sustainable mobility transformation is required, with the next decade crucial, whereby necessary journeys are made by sustainable modes such as walking, cycling and public transport, followed by using electric vehicles where unavoidable. For this transformation to happen we need to start fast-tracking the measures in the Climate Action Plan and other necessary measures. Transport (2) Long-term, integrated spatial and transport planning can achieve compact development and move trips to rail, bus, cycling and walking. Shifting to these modes is an essential part of a sustainable and climate-neutral transition for the transport sector. Transport (3) While challenging, the long-term changes required in transport can deliver multiple benefits in reducing greenhouse gases, tackling growing traffic congestion, reducing air pollution and noise emissions, and enhancing our wellbeing and the economy. Energy (1) Almost 90 per cent of Ireland’s total energy use is provided by combustion of, mostly imported, fossil fuels. This is not sustainable. The resultant emissions are damaging for our health and our environment and continue to drive climate change. To transform this situation, we need to start fast-tracking the measures in the Climate Action Plan and other necessary solutions. Strategic planning is required to transform this situation by 2050, including accelerated actions to 2030. Energy (2) Transitioning to a clean energy future is essential for the protection of human health, climate and the environment, while having many benefits for sustainable development. The investment and implementation of currently available solutions to enhance efficiency and utilise Ireland’s renewable energy potential needs to be urgently rolled out. Energy (3) Current fossil carbon lock-ins in electricity generation, but particularly in buildings and transport, need to be assessed, quantified and managed as part of the rapid transition away from these energy sources. Such a transition will require effective frameworks for investment. The redirection of fossil fuel subsidies can contribute to this process. Agriculture (1) Agricultural practices are identified in EPA reports as being one of the main pressures responsible for the decline in water quality nationally. Moreover, the agriculture sector is responsible for approximately one-third of national greenhouse gas emissions and over 99 per cent of national ammonia emissions. Biodiversity is also under pressure from land use changes and intensive farming. Ireland’s reputation as a food producer with a low environmental footprint is at risk of being irreversibly damaged. Outcome-focused and activity metrics are required to allow for tracking of the sector’s performance and accountability in improving sustainability and protecting the environment. 452